Travel Delays on I-80?

oldsoul · Post by **oldsoul** » Tue Aug 04, 2009 7:19 am

Does anyone know how ripped up I-80 between Sacramento and Reno will be for this year's Burn? My pal in California that we're meeting informs us that there is some major construction going on in a few different places, and that we could experience extreme delays. Should we consider an alternate route?

Anyone that travels this way frequently, or perhaps if somebody has a connection with Caltrans, I'd appreciate any info you have.

Charlie_in_OC · Post by **Charlie_in_OC** » Tue Aug 04, 2009 7:29 am

http://www.getacross80.com/

oldsoul · Post by **oldsoul** » Tue Aug 04, 2009 7:37 am

Charlie_in_OC wrote:http://www.getacross80.com/

I was looking at this site, which leads me to interpret that it would not actually be that bad at all, but I've heard this will be updated after this week?

Post by **AntiM** » Tue Aug 04, 2009 7:57 am

The original thread on thsi got buried. Nighttime closures may be in effect.

http://eplaya.burningman.org/viewtopic.php?t=29298

Dr. Pyro · Post by **Dr. Pyro** » Tue Aug 04, 2009 9:12 am

I live in Placer County and have personal experience with this. It is not too bad until you get to just beyond Nyack. About 2 miles after Rt. 20 hits I-80 traffic comes to a complete stand still. This is about four miles west of the Boreal Ridge Rest Area. It took me 1 1/2 hours to get over the summit and up to speed again. They do close the interstate at night (11 p.m. until about dawn) to RVs and trucks, with detours available to everybody else. This is a real nightmare and you had better expect to add several hours to the usual travel time.

trenton · Post by **trenton** » Tue Aug 04, 2009 9:20 am

Might I suggest Hwy 88 alot less traveled,more senic and alot of places to stop and enjoy the view.

phil · Post by **phil** » Tue Aug 04, 2009 9:54 am

I have links to several web sites about the construction here:
http://www.cieux.com/bm/alerts.html#roads

CalDOT, NDOT, Bay Bridge, AAA, twitter and such. See what seems helpful to you and keep current as the day approaches.

FrankA · Post by **FrankA** » Tue Aug 04, 2009 10:36 am

I was looking at that as well, the site appears to give updates on a weekly basis? Looking at a map it looks that hwy 50 is an alternate route? Is the delay on 80 enought to consider taking another route instead?

Thecatman · Post by **Thecatman** » Tue Aug 04, 2009 11:42 am

Whats taking place on I80 in the golden state is at least a two year project, depending on weather conditions, accidents etc. So expect it next year to.

Thecatman · Post by **Thecatman** » Tue Aug 04, 2009 11:53 am

trenton wrote:Might I suggest Hwy 88 alot less traveled,more senic and alot of places to stop and enjoy the view.

Hwy 70 is a nice drive to. It might take some (out-of-the-way) but its a nice drive and only one traffic light

that I remember, that being in Portola. The tourists and guest comming to Reno for Hot August Nights right now are feeling the same pain. To make matters worse for them, SR 28 was closed this weekend and Monday cuz of a sewer leak.

LostinReno · Post by **LostinReno** » Tue Aug 04, 2009 12:54 pm

Thecatman wrote:
trenton wrote:Might I suggest Hwy 88 alot less traveled,more senic and alot of places to stop and enjoy the view.
Hwy 70 is a nice drive to. It might take some (out-of-the-way) but its a nice drive and only one traffic light that I remember, that being in Portola. The tourists and guest comming to Reno for Hot August Nights right now are feeling the same pain. To make matters worse for them, SR 28 was closed this weekend and Monday cuz of a sewer leak.

Catman beat me to it! Also from personal experience on towing our camp trailer up to Truckee two weeks ago, the alloted lanes on I-80 are freakishly narrow. They claim they are 10 feet wide, our trailer is only 7 feet wide, it did not feel like we had 3 feet to play with. It will make ya pucker!

Bounce530 · Post by **Bounce530** » Tue Aug 04, 2009 5:09 pm

Thecatman wrote:Hwy 70 is a nice drive to.

SHHHH that's my secret route!! It really is a nice scenic drive, but prob out of the way for most. It would add at least an hour and half to anybody coming from Sacramento to get to Reno.

mojo · Post by **mojo** » Tue Aug 04, 2009 5:22 pm

The lanes are so narrow that it feels like a luge - even in a standard size car. I can't imagine what it will be like in an rv with a trailer (or even just with a trailer). This will be a white knuckled trip for me.......

Post by **AntiM** » Tue Aug 04, 2009 5:28 pm

MyLarry's been doing it in a semi, I'll have to ask him how it has been.

Absolut Jeenyus · Post by **Absolut Jeenyus** » Tue Aug 04, 2009 5:30 pm

Only decision is to sit in traffic, or drive a detour route. Either way its going to add another hour and a half no matter what. Just adds another hour and a half to my anticipation. Fucking bring it.

mojo · Post by **mojo** » Tue Aug 04, 2009 5:43 pm

AntiM wrote:MyLarry's been doing it in a semi, I'll have to ask him how it has been.

On the eastbound side, they split the lanes into two singles - one for cars, another marked for trucks, and both have guardrails on both sides. I took the one marked for trucks and was still nearly undone.

It's not the waiting in slow traffic that bothers me - it's the scary narrow lanes.

Absolut Jeenyus · Post by **Absolut Jeenyus** » Tue Aug 04, 2009 6:48 pm

Department of Transportation

Current Interstate Highway 80 Conditions
Before driving, check with the Caltrans Highway Information Network (CHIN) 800.427.7623

I 80
[IN THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA]
NO TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS ARE REPORTED FOR THIS AREA.

[IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA & THE SIERRA NEVADA]
IS CLOSED TO EASTBOUND TRAFFIC FROM THE JCT OF SR 174 /IN COLFAX/ TO
4 MI EAST OF COLFAX /AT SECRET TOWN RD/ (PLACER CO) FROM 2000 HRS EACH NIGHT TO
0700 HRS EACH MORNING 7 DAYS A WEEK THRU 9/9/09 - DUE TO CONSTRUCTION -
A DETOUR IS AVAILABLE - TRUCKS MUST EXIT AT BELL RD /2.5 MI EAST OF AUBURN/

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Tue Aug 04, 2009 9:49 pm

or, just take I-80, and, allow more time, and, drive slow and safe.....
probably just as fast as 70, 49, 50, or 88........those are the alternates......that I know of.

Oldguy · Post by **Oldguy** » Tue Aug 04, 2009 11:06 pm

Thanks everyone, I'll be going over Beckworth Pass instead of Donner Pass this year. From where I live, it's about the same driving time to Reno. It's more scenic too.

If anyone is driving over the Feather River at Yuba City on Highway 20 stay on 20, the Fifth Street Bridge and Bridge Street will be under repairs. The Tenth Street Bridge will be open, no delays. I'll be crossing the Feather at Oroville.

Bounce530, I was up on the ridge last weekend getting some kitchen stuff from a craiglister. I stopped off at the lookout to look at the canyon. That fire last year sure cleared out a lot of brush...

Ygmir, I do know where Orland ,California is located, about a hundred miles north of Sacramento in Glenn County. But I live about halfway there from Sacratomato. Never been there, or the other Orland for that matter.

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Tue Aug 04, 2009 11:14 pm

OG:
I had great faith in your knowing where Orland is.........no matter what others say............

I"d love to go over 70, but, Yuba city is 45 mins, at best, from here.........so, it'd add probably at least 2 hours to my drive, and, I'll be pulling a 24' trailer...........ah well.......good for you though, I've taken that drive and it is beautiful, especially the Feather river canyon...

Rainmkr · Post by **Rainmkr** » Wed Aug 05, 2009 1:01 am

Came back from Truckee to Reno the other day on I-80, during rush hour, which was stupid, and it took two additional hours to get through the road construction part. I would recommend traveling through that section during off-peak hours if at all possible and allowing extra time for sure.

Thecatman · Post by **Thecatman** » Wed Aug 05, 2009 1:43 am

LostinReno wrote:the alloted lanes on I-80 are freakishly narrow. They claim they are 10 feet wide, our trailer is only 7 feet wide, it did not feel like we had 3 feet to play with. It will make ya pucker!

The only thing I see that claims the lanes are ten feet is the (Overhead message board) on WB 80 near Mougol that orders oversize loads 10 feet or wider to exit at Boomtown exit 4! Then what?

A few weeks ago we were told not to go west past exit 1 during a certain time period. I forgot and ended up taking a Nevada state truck to Boca/Hirshdale cuz Farad and Floreston were closed. Like ygimr said "allow for time and take it slow and safe!" The EB lanes designated for trucks looked dangerously narrow.

Post by **AntiM** » Wed Aug 05, 2009 4:36 am

I talked to MyLarry last night, he just made a couple runs into Lincoln, CA with structural steel for the casino. The lanes are ten feet, and his truck is eight and a half feet wide. You bet the professionals are running this in daylight hours only, avoiding the escorted detour debacle.

I didn't ask him how the wide loads were getting through, but it sure as hell isn't through those lanes.

Having sober, rested drivers for the return trip is essential.

LostinReno · Post by **LostinReno** » Wed Aug 05, 2009 12:48 pm

mojo wrote:The lanes are so narrow that it feels like a luge - even in a standard size car. I can't imagine what it will be like in an rv with a trailer (or even just with a trailer). This will be a white knuckled trip for me.......

Luge! Great analogy! I hate that part of 80 even when it's "normal". Oh! A friend of mine works for Granite Construction and has told me that it will be that way until well after Labor Day.

Actually if the traffic is all backed up and slow through there, it wouldn't be so bad. It's when your expected to do 55 that makes it scary.

ygmir · Post by **ygmir** » Wed Aug 05, 2009 1:41 pm

LostinReno wrote:
mojo wrote:The lanes are so narrow that it feels like a luge - even in a standard size car. I can't imagine what it will be like in an rv with a trailer (or even just with a trailer). This will be a white knuckled trip for me.......
Luge! Great analogy! I hate that part of 80 even when it's "normal". Oh! A friend of mine works for Granite Construction and has told me that it will be that way until well after Labor Day.
Actually if the traffic is all backed up and slow through there, it wouldn't be so bad. It's when your expected to do 55 that makes it scary.

yeah, slow traffic there, for me pulling a 24' trailer, would be ok anyway......

or, I'll just go slow and safe, and, accept with thanks, all the fingers I'm offered...........

trenton · Post by **trenton** » Wed Aug 05, 2009 4:46 pm

ok ok bay area people beatup your rig suffer in traffic and be miserable on your way . Hwy 88 is THE route I do this way at least 2 to 3 times a month. Why now stop at Red Lake ,Caples lake Kirkwood lake , Carson River ECT Did i mention ECT If I'm wrong Beat me! Ive done this for the last 25 summers(my home town is fallon) Ask any hay truck driver no scales few cops good scenes good smooth road. Would I lie to you? if you live in or off of 80 in the bay area cut over on 120(manteca) and take 99 for a few miles to 88 and wow drops you in Carson City and 3 hrs towing and you are there with NO drama

Absolut Jeenyus · Post by **Absolut Jeenyus** » Wed Aug 05, 2009 7:51 pm

If you were coming from the bay area couldn't you just take the 50 out of Sacramento to Carson and avoid going further south by having to take the 120, 99, and 88?

Weebdog · Post by **Weebdog** » Wed Aug 05, 2009 8:41 pm

Are there 10' lanes on I-80 west bound also or are they just in the east bound direction?

LostinReno · Post by **LostinReno** » Wed Aug 05, 2009 8:44 pm

Weebdog wrote:Are there 10' lanes on I-80 west bound also or are they just in the east bound direction?

Both directions, the east bound ones are scarier.

Weebdog · Post by **Weebdog** » Wed Aug 05, 2009 10:43 pm

Thanks for the info.

Travel Delays on I-80?

Travel Delays on I-80?

80 update?